A test piece configured for the implementation of a method for evaluating an assembly by welding of parts made of thermoplastic materials, wherein the test piece includes at least two parts based on thermoplastic materials having surfaces to be welded that are at least partially placed opposite one another and respective free surfaces, wherein at least one of the parts is a perforated reference part including at least one perforation.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

A connection element includes a composite component with a cured epoxy resin, a first layer including a first thermoplastic polymer and an intermediate layer arranged between the composite component and the first layer, the first layer containing both the cured epoxy resin of the composite component and the first thermoplastic polymer of the first layer. The first thermoplastic polymer has a melting point above a curing temperature of the epoxy resin and is soluble at a temperature of at least 150 C. in the epoxy resin used for producing the composite component.

A heat sink for use in electromagnetic welding of molded parts includes reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix material, where substantially all of the reinforcing fibers are oriented unidirectionally in a fiber direction, where the reinforcing fibers have a thermal conductivity at room temperature from 100-1000 W/m. K and an electrical resistivity at room temperature from 0.5-10.m, and where the matrix material comprises a high temperature resistant material, optionally a thermosetting resin, having a glass transition temperature Tg above 350 C. The heat sink is used in a method of connecting surfaces of a first molded part and a second molded part by electromagnetic welding. Cooling of the outer surface of the first molded part is provided by the heat sink in direct contact with the outer surface.

Apparatus (10) and associated method for joining thermoplastic composite components (66, 68) to one another. Firstly, an electrically-conductive carbon-fibre textile (74) is positioned between two pieces of thermoplastic composite (66, 68) to form a weldable assembly (64), and pressure is applied to the weldable assembly (64). A voltage is then applied across the carbon-fibre textile (74) to heat the carbon-fibre textile (74), thereby melting the thermoplastic (82) of a carbon-fibre textile facing surface (78, 80) of each thermoplastic composite (66, 68), wherein the melted thermoplastic (82) fluidly fills the inter-fibre space (84) of the carbon-fibre textile (74). Upon removing the voltage to allow the carbon-fibre textile (74) to cool, a weld (86) forms between the two thermoplastic composites (66, 68) as the thermoplastic sets.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.